Flight of the Saint Dragon
By Monoshiri
A/N: Credit where credit's due on this one. It was inspired by a combination of the Animatrix (Final Flight of the Osiris), too much soda pop, and Ice Blue X's example for an AU. My brain blends it all together, and here we have the soda-poppy-good result. A warning to the reader: this is an AU, folks, which means things ain't what they are in the YGO-verse. In this fic, the characters remain IC, but the situation is wholly different. Now, with that out of the way, I'd better put up the
BIG FAT YAOI WARNING
There, did you see it? *snerksnerk* Pretty obvious, ne? Well, actually, it only has one yaoi pairing in it.the others are het pairings. However, there's lots of fluffy male bonding, WAFF-y goodness, romance, humour, and action in it as well, so that should keep most people entertained. I should warn you of two other things as well. One is that there is
TORTURE, VIOLENCE, GUNFIGHTS, NASTINESS, AND A BIG FAT YAOI LEMON
In this fic as well. The other is that, well, to those of you who loathe certain characters, please be aware that I like *all* of the charas in YGO (although some I like best *huggles Jounouchi, Yuugi, and Kaiba*).hell, I'll even give Ryuuzaki and Haga a fair hearing ^-^. So there will be no Anzu-bashing, Honda-bashing, or anybody-bashing in this fic, and if someone flames me because I wrote someone they dislike a decent role, you were forewarned, it's your own problem.
A final note: some authors encourage flamers. I am not one of them. I adore constructive criticism, but flames are just a waste of monitor space. Please refrain from flaming, smoking, and throwing things at the screen, and please turn off all cell phones during the fanfic. Thank you, and have a pleasant viewing. ^-^ Without further ado,
THE PREFACE:
The year is 2257, and humanity, having perfected space travel, has colonized the galaxy. Under the rule of the all-powerful Galactic Council, the lives of the humans living on the terraformed planets of the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta sectors are content and economically stable, if not entirely free. However, for the inhabitants of the poverty-stricken Epsilon sector, especially the planet Nexus 4, life is a constant struggle for survival, and dreams are crushed by the poverty and hunger that stalks this powerless, useless part of the Interstellar Home System.
Yet on Nexus 4, a young boy, Yuugi Mouto, has finally achieved his secret ambition: in a region where star ships, especially sleek fighters, are legendary but unreachable, Yuugi and his grandfather Suguroku have succeeded in building a ship unmatched in all five systems. Swift, powerful, large enough for four crew, a voyager/racer/fighter and a revolution of mechanical work and design, the ship is christened the *Saint Dragon*. Yuugi's dream to become a pilot is about to be fulfilled, it seems...until it becomes clear that he has a greater purpose than mere racing.
The Galactic Council, concerned by attacks from rogue colonies, space pirates, and unknown species, has been developing new weapons for their vast Interstellar Security Force. Unfortunately, these weapons require a power source beyond what is available.until a genius scientist, Pegasus J. Crawford, discovers a material abundant in the Epsilon sector, Vorostrite, which, when placed in fission correctly, can generate the massive power needed for the Galactic Council to achieve its aims and maintain its all- powerful rule. The only way to generate this fission, however, is through a tiny machine called the Z-One, unique and impossible to duplicate, which Crawford's associate, Arthur Hopkins, created just before he died. The Galactic Council sends the ISF to prepare (re: force) the people of Nexus 4, which is composed entirely of the needed Vorostrite, to evacuate to other sectors until further notice. It is clear that the Council thinks nothing of the inhabitants of the planet: there are no plans to re-settle them after Nexus 4 is destroyed.
Yuugi and his grandfather are in the midst of preparing to leave when the *Saint Dragon* receives a teleported item: the Z-One, the brainchild of Arthur Hopkins, and the sole enabler of the Council to create the needed fission in the Vorostrite. Somehow, the signal on the *Dragon*'s receiver interfered with a secure connection between the Council and the ISF, resulting in the accidental transport of the Z-One aboard the *Saint Dragon*.
Suguroku urges Yuugi to return the machine to the ISF and not cause trouble, but Yuugi, when he discovers what the Z-One is and what it has caused, takes a different course. Deciding to try and save Nexus 4 from the Council's machinations, he hides it on board the *Saint Dragon*, intending to take the device far away where no one will ever find it (the Z- One is, unfortunately, indestructible); first, however, he goes to say a final goodbye to his childhood friends...
DRAMATIS PERSONAE (THE CHARACTERS^-^)
YUUGI MOUTO, a sweet little kid from Nexus 4 who just wanted to be a pilot when he grew up. Now, however, the fate of his family and friends, not to mention his whole planet, has been thrust onto his shoulders through an accident of fate. With the *Saint Dragon* under his command and the Z-One in his possession, Yuugi has the courage to attempt to save Nexus 4, and as a bonus, the support of his best friends as crew. He's going to need them all, because he's also the most wanted person in the whole galaxy, now that the Council has found out he's got the Z-One.
KATSUYA JOUNOUCHI, Yuugi's tough, fiery best friend, who is now serving as the gunner aboard the *Saint Dragon*. His whole life, Jounouchi has had everything taken from him by the Council: his sister was abducted by officials and sent to a wealthy, childless couple in the Alpha sector until Jounouchi's mother raised a public outcry; the boy he fell in love with was drafted into a cruel training program by an ISF general when they were twelve; his father was shot to death by Council agents. A skilled marksman and renowned fighter, Jounouchi is willing to do anything for his best friends Yuugi, Honda, and Anzu, and willing to do more even than that to defy the dictatorial Council.
HIROTO HONDA, Jounouchi's best friend and Yuugi's protector, now the mechanic of the *Saint Dragon*. An expert with machines, Honda may seem like a hard-ass, but he has his soft spots: he'd go to any length to protect the ones he cares for, including his secret crush, Shizuka, Jounouchi's younger sister. He's also the voice of reason among the young idealistic crew of the *Saint Dragon*.
ANZU MAZAKI, Yuugi's childhood friend and the co-pilot of the *Saint Dragon*. A spunky spitfire of a girl, Anzu has shared her best friend's dream of freedom and open space for as long as she can remember, and now she's finally taking the chance. She's not oblivious to the danger they're in by any means, but right now it doesn't bother her: she's certain that they'll succeed in thwarting the Council's destruction of Nexus 4.
SETO KAIBA, the ruthless commander of the ISF and captain of the starship *Divine Soldier*. Kaiba is renowned as a cold and inhuman soldier, with a past shrouded in mystery. When the Z-One is entrusted to his care and goes missing on Nexus 4, a planet well known to him, Kaiba assumes responsibility for the loss and makes the recovery of the Z-One, and the capture of the fugitive *Saint Dragon* and her crew, his personal crusade. And anyone who knows of Kaiba's relentless reputation knows that the young renegades are in deadly danger from him.
BAKURA, KING OF THIEVES, a merciless pirate and the captain of the starship *Necromancer*. Bakura knows the reputation of the Z-One; he'd love to steal it, and the notorious *Saint Dragon* as well, for his own purposes, and he's a good enough pilot that he might match Yuugi Mouto.
MALIK ISHTAR, leader of the renegade Ghouls and captain of the starship *Winged Ra*. Malik is from a rogue colony attempting to assert independence from the Council through violence and terror: he needs the Z- One for leverage against the Council, and he'll kill to get it if he has to.
MAI KUJAKU, a good-hearted pirate, captain of the *Harpy*. Mai comes onside with the renegades of the *Saint Dragon*, not caring that it may cost her freedom to befriend these daring rebels.
"DINOSAUR" RYUUZAKI, a pirate, Mai's second and the gunner of the *Harpy*.
KAJIKI RYOUTA, a pirate, the mechanic of the *Harpy*.
"INSECTOR" HAGA, a pirate, the science officer of the *Harpy*.
SHADI, ISIS ISHTAR, and ESPER ROBA, members of the Freethinkers, an organization of mystics which opposes the science-oriented Galactic Council.
Phew, all done! That's all I can think of for now, minna-san.I'll put up the first chapter as soon as I can, I promise. ^-^
By Monoshiri
A/N: Credit where credit's due on this one. It was inspired by a combination of the Animatrix (Final Flight of the Osiris), too much soda pop, and Ice Blue X's example for an AU. My brain blends it all together, and here we have the soda-poppy-good result. A warning to the reader: this is an AU, folks, which means things ain't what they are in the YGO-verse. In this fic, the characters remain IC, but the situation is wholly different. Now, with that out of the way, I'd better put up the
BIG FAT YAOI WARNING
There, did you see it? *snerksnerk* Pretty obvious, ne? Well, actually, it only has one yaoi pairing in it.the others are het pairings. However, there's lots of fluffy male bonding, WAFF-y goodness, romance, humour, and action in it as well, so that should keep most people entertained. I should warn you of two other things as well. One is that there is
TORTURE, VIOLENCE, GUNFIGHTS, NASTINESS, AND A BIG FAT YAOI LEMON
In this fic as well. The other is that, well, to those of you who loathe certain characters, please be aware that I like *all* of the charas in YGO (although some I like best *huggles Jounouchi, Yuugi, and Kaiba*).hell, I'll even give Ryuuzaki and Haga a fair hearing ^-^. So there will be no Anzu-bashing, Honda-bashing, or anybody-bashing in this fic, and if someone flames me because I wrote someone they dislike a decent role, you were forewarned, it's your own problem.
A final note: some authors encourage flamers. I am not one of them. I adore constructive criticism, but flames are just a waste of monitor space. Please refrain from flaming, smoking, and throwing things at the screen, and please turn off all cell phones during the fanfic. Thank you, and have a pleasant viewing. ^-^ Without further ado,
THE PREFACE:
The year is 2257, and humanity, having perfected space travel, has colonized the galaxy. Under the rule of the all-powerful Galactic Council, the lives of the humans living on the terraformed planets of the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta sectors are content and economically stable, if not entirely free. However, for the inhabitants of the poverty-stricken Epsilon sector, especially the planet Nexus 4, life is a constant struggle for survival, and dreams are crushed by the poverty and hunger that stalks this powerless, useless part of the Interstellar Home System.
Yet on Nexus 4, a young boy, Yuugi Mouto, has finally achieved his secret ambition: in a region where star ships, especially sleek fighters, are legendary but unreachable, Yuugi and his grandfather Suguroku have succeeded in building a ship unmatched in all five systems. Swift, powerful, large enough for four crew, a voyager/racer/fighter and a revolution of mechanical work and design, the ship is christened the *Saint Dragon*. Yuugi's dream to become a pilot is about to be fulfilled, it seems...until it becomes clear that he has a greater purpose than mere racing.
The Galactic Council, concerned by attacks from rogue colonies, space pirates, and unknown species, has been developing new weapons for their vast Interstellar Security Force. Unfortunately, these weapons require a power source beyond what is available.until a genius scientist, Pegasus J. Crawford, discovers a material abundant in the Epsilon sector, Vorostrite, which, when placed in fission correctly, can generate the massive power needed for the Galactic Council to achieve its aims and maintain its all- powerful rule. The only way to generate this fission, however, is through a tiny machine called the Z-One, unique and impossible to duplicate, which Crawford's associate, Arthur Hopkins, created just before he died. The Galactic Council sends the ISF to prepare (re: force) the people of Nexus 4, which is composed entirely of the needed Vorostrite, to evacuate to other sectors until further notice. It is clear that the Council thinks nothing of the inhabitants of the planet: there are no plans to re-settle them after Nexus 4 is destroyed.
Yuugi and his grandfather are in the midst of preparing to leave when the *Saint Dragon* receives a teleported item: the Z-One, the brainchild of Arthur Hopkins, and the sole enabler of the Council to create the needed fission in the Vorostrite. Somehow, the signal on the *Dragon*'s receiver interfered with a secure connection between the Council and the ISF, resulting in the accidental transport of the Z-One aboard the *Saint Dragon*.
Suguroku urges Yuugi to return the machine to the ISF and not cause trouble, but Yuugi, when he discovers what the Z-One is and what it has caused, takes a different course. Deciding to try and save Nexus 4 from the Council's machinations, he hides it on board the *Saint Dragon*, intending to take the device far away where no one will ever find it (the Z- One is, unfortunately, indestructible); first, however, he goes to say a final goodbye to his childhood friends...
DRAMATIS PERSONAE (THE CHARACTERS^-^)
YUUGI MOUTO, a sweet little kid from Nexus 4 who just wanted to be a pilot when he grew up. Now, however, the fate of his family and friends, not to mention his whole planet, has been thrust onto his shoulders through an accident of fate. With the *Saint Dragon* under his command and the Z-One in his possession, Yuugi has the courage to attempt to save Nexus 4, and as a bonus, the support of his best friends as crew. He's going to need them all, because he's also the most wanted person in the whole galaxy, now that the Council has found out he's got the Z-One.
KATSUYA JOUNOUCHI, Yuugi's tough, fiery best friend, who is now serving as the gunner aboard the *Saint Dragon*. His whole life, Jounouchi has had everything taken from him by the Council: his sister was abducted by officials and sent to a wealthy, childless couple in the Alpha sector until Jounouchi's mother raised a public outcry; the boy he fell in love with was drafted into a cruel training program by an ISF general when they were twelve; his father was shot to death by Council agents. A skilled marksman and renowned fighter, Jounouchi is willing to do anything for his best friends Yuugi, Honda, and Anzu, and willing to do more even than that to defy the dictatorial Council.
HIROTO HONDA, Jounouchi's best friend and Yuugi's protector, now the mechanic of the *Saint Dragon*. An expert with machines, Honda may seem like a hard-ass, but he has his soft spots: he'd go to any length to protect the ones he cares for, including his secret crush, Shizuka, Jounouchi's younger sister. He's also the voice of reason among the young idealistic crew of the *Saint Dragon*.
ANZU MAZAKI, Yuugi's childhood friend and the co-pilot of the *Saint Dragon*. A spunky spitfire of a girl, Anzu has shared her best friend's dream of freedom and open space for as long as she can remember, and now she's finally taking the chance. She's not oblivious to the danger they're in by any means, but right now it doesn't bother her: she's certain that they'll succeed in thwarting the Council's destruction of Nexus 4.
SETO KAIBA, the ruthless commander of the ISF and captain of the starship *Divine Soldier*. Kaiba is renowned as a cold and inhuman soldier, with a past shrouded in mystery. When the Z-One is entrusted to his care and goes missing on Nexus 4, a planet well known to him, Kaiba assumes responsibility for the loss and makes the recovery of the Z-One, and the capture of the fugitive *Saint Dragon* and her crew, his personal crusade. And anyone who knows of Kaiba's relentless reputation knows that the young renegades are in deadly danger from him.
BAKURA, KING OF THIEVES, a merciless pirate and the captain of the starship *Necromancer*. Bakura knows the reputation of the Z-One; he'd love to steal it, and the notorious *Saint Dragon* as well, for his own purposes, and he's a good enough pilot that he might match Yuugi Mouto.
MALIK ISHTAR, leader of the renegade Ghouls and captain of the starship *Winged Ra*. Malik is from a rogue colony attempting to assert independence from the Council through violence and terror: he needs the Z- One for leverage against the Council, and he'll kill to get it if he has to.
MAI KUJAKU, a good-hearted pirate, captain of the *Harpy*. Mai comes onside with the renegades of the *Saint Dragon*, not caring that it may cost her freedom to befriend these daring rebels.
"DINOSAUR" RYUUZAKI, a pirate, Mai's second and the gunner of the *Harpy*.
KAJIKI RYOUTA, a pirate, the mechanic of the *Harpy*.
"INSECTOR" HAGA, a pirate, the science officer of the *Harpy*.
SHADI, ISIS ISHTAR, and ESPER ROBA, members of the Freethinkers, an organization of mystics which opposes the science-oriented Galactic Council.
Phew, all done! That's all I can think of for now, minna-san.I'll put up the first chapter as soon as I can, I promise. ^-^